Northampton Water Bills To Go Up 11 Percent

The 11,000 Northampton Municipal Authority customers will pay 11 percent more this year for water.

During the meeting yesterday, the board set the rate for the increase approved last month.

The rates will go into effect in April for most customers. Those who have the larger meters, generally the non-residential users, will receive the first bill reflecting the increase next month.

The average residential customer, who uses about 1,900 cubic feet of water a year, will have a rate increase of $3.90, from $35.40 to $39.30 a quarter. The total annual increase would be about $15.60.

The authority said the increase was needed to cover increased operations and maintenance costs and capital improvements, including repairs to the Spring Mill Dam and replacement of a main in Eberhard Road. The main is subject to breaks and causes disruption of service in North Catasauqua and Fullerton.

The authority serves customers in Northampton, North Catasauqua, Coplay, and portions of Whitehall and North Whitehall.

The 1989-90 budget is to be adopted in March. The authority fiscal year begins April 1.